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According to many who have tried it, paragliding is a sport that offers many novel sensations. It can be said that it provides a rare and exciting and adventurous experience. The feeling of flying over tourist destinations, taking in everything from above, is a mix of tension, fear, excitement, and joy – a truly wonderful experience.
Moderately high hills with clear, open skies are considered ideal takeoff locations for paragliders. In such places, the air mass is pushed up the slope by the wind at a sufficient speed, allowing the paraglider to fly longer in the sky.
Currently, there are several popular paragliding spots in Vietnam spread across the country:
Mu Cang Chai, Yen Bai
When mentioning paragliding spots in Vietnam, Mu Cang Chai always stands out. The scenery of the Northwest mountains and terraced rice fields, whether in harvest season or during the rainy season, is inherently captivating to tourists. The peaceful and majestic beauty of the Northwest, a place everyone dreams of visiting at least once in their lifetime, is especially alluring to adventure travelers, particularly with Khau Pha Pass, considered one of the "four great mountain passes" of Vietnam.
With Mu Cang Chai reaching an altitude of over 1,000 meters, what could be more wonderful than taking in the panoramic views of Northwest Vietnam amidst a sea of fluffy white clouds? During the rice harvest season, paragliding is also a popular choice for many tourists to admire the entire Lim Mong valley, ablaze with golden rice paddies.
Alongside paragliding, many other activities take place at the top of Khau Pha Pass, such as: displaying Hmong flutes; exhibiting and introducing books, paintings, and photographs; and stalls selling local products (rice, hawthorn fruit, wine, dried pork, etc.).
Bai Nha Mountain, Hoa Binh
Bai Nha, located in Ngoc Son commune, Lac Son district, Hoa Binh province, is also a famous paragliding spot in Northern Vietnam. The windy peak of Bai Nha stands majestically, inviting and challenging paragliders. Every paraglider dreams of conquering this peak, soaring into the sky, imprinting their image against the backdrop of the heavens, and fulfilling their yearning for conquest.
From the summit of Bai Nha, paragliders can enjoy breathtaking views of the lush green mountains and vast forests, as well as the verdant fields. Bai Nha Peak is also a frequent venue for many famous paragliding competitions in Northern Vietnam.
Vien Nam Mountain, Hanoi
Vien Nam Mountain, located in Yen Binh commune, Thach That district, Hanoi, is a fairly well-known paragliding spot in Vietnam. The mountain peak, at 1,031 meters above sea level, is suitable for takeoff. The area surrounding the peak also boasts beautiful terrain ideal for paragliding.
Many members of the Northern Paragliding Club regularly come here to practice together. However, it takes about 30 minutes of walking to reach the mountaintop before they can begin their journey.
Linh Truong Mountain, Thanh Hoa
The takeoff point atop the mountain at an altitude of 210 meters is surrounded by a pine forest with a narrow and steep runway. This is a "playground" for experienced pilots. From above, you will see the serene beauty of the endless stretch of turquoise beach with towering casuarina trees, and in the distance, salt fields sparkling in the sunlight. Winding along the Lach Truong River, Linh Truong Mountain, still relatively unspoiled, stretches nearly 5 km towards the southeast, a highlight of this naturally endowed region with mountains, rivers, and the sea, providing excellent conditions and many options for safe landings.
Son Tra Peninsula, Da Nang
The Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang City is also a popular paragliding spot in Vietnam, boasting stunning scenery. Paragliders will have the opportunity to admire the charming bay on one side and the majestic, cloud-shrouded mountain peaks on the other, with lush green forests stretching across the high mountains, creating a vast ecological area.
Many tourists visiting Da Nang also want to try this adventurous sport. The landing spot for paragliding on Son Tra Peninsula is usually Tho Quang Beach or Pham Van Dong Beach, which are shaped like arcs, creating charming and inviting bays.
Lang Biang Mountain, Da Lat
Lang Biang Mountain is a popular paragliding spot for many tourists visiting the misty city of Da Lat. Visitors will need to climb to the summit before beginning their paragliding flight. Paragliders will have the opportunity to admire the entire landscape of Da Lat from above. This romantic city, viewed from above, also possesses incredibly unique and striking features.
Here, you can take a Jeep ride to the summit of Lang Biang, then paraglide down to the foot of the mountain. If you're not yet proficient and confident enough, you can try tandem paragliding with an instructor to enjoy a completely different view of Da Lat from above.
Nha Trang Beach, Khanh Hoa
With mountains behind and the vast, open sea in front, Nha Trang beach is ideal for paragliding. However, paragliding in Nha Trang is slightly different in that a speedboat will run across the sea at high speed to pull the paraglider, which will open and fly high above the water.
Observing the coastal city from above reveals the full beauty of its long stretches of fine white sand beaches, the stunning offshore islands, the swaying coconut and casuarina trees along the coast, and the ancient, moss-covered Cham temples atop the mountains...
Phan Thiet, Binh Thuan
With its mountainous terrain facing the sea and favorable winds, you can enjoy paragliding at several beautiful spots in Mui Ne, Hon Hong, or the sand dunes and valleys... Paragliding athletes often come to Phan Thiet to satisfy their passion for conquering the sky because it is considered a very beautiful flying location.
Things to keep in mind if you want to try paragliding in Vietnam.
If you want to try paragliding in Vietnam, you need to thoroughly research the sport, how it works, and have a strong mental fortitude.
It's best to enroll in a paragliding training course. On average, paragliding lessons cost between 4,000,000 and 7,000,000 VND and consist of 10 sessions to teach students basic flying skills.
After taking paragliding courses, you can go to several locations with available equipment, with the price per flight ranging from 1-2 million VND. For your first flights, you should choose tandem flying with an instructor to ensure safety.
During paragliding, you also need to listen carefully to the instructor's instructions and maintain high concentration to ensure safety.
If you want to prepare your own paragliding equipment, you will have to invest a considerable amount of money. On average, a complete paragliding equipment set costs at least 50,000,000 to 100,000,000 VND.
